Guatemala

Poverty in Guatemala is over half of the population. Nearly 65% of the people or about 7 million people live on less that a few dollars a day. Poverty is significantly higher among the indigenous population. Over three-quarters of the indigenous population live in poverty and it is mostly in the Northern region of the country which is populated primarily by indigenous groups. On another note, Guatemala had one of the longest civil wars of all the Latin America countries spanning over 36 years and it ended in 1996 but the affects of war are everywhere.

Cowboy in Cubulco, Guatemala.

Michaela and her 1 year old son Samuel sitting in their small home in Guatemala City.

90 year old Maria Elena carries flowers to be placed at the tomb of her son Alfonso who died at age 46.

Maria and her 3-year-old daughter in their dirt floor home in Yalu, Guatemala.

Patricio clears a small patch of land that he rents and plans to plant beans near Yalu, Guatemala.

Children wait in line for food in Yalu, Guatemala. 7 out of 10 indigenous people in Guatemala live in poverty.

25 year old Rufino who has Ichthyosis ,which is a genetic skin disorders characterized by dry, scaling skin at his home in San Matco, Guatemala.

Two young men sit after cutting corn near Yalu,Guatemala.

A lady and her children carry grain for the livestock in Yalu, Guatemala.

People who live in the communities next to Guatemala City’s dump carry buckets filled with small stones to make concrete for floors in their homes. The dump supports thousands of people who harvest supplies from the garbage.

Mario Kafael harvested shoes from the city dump which he sells for about $2 a pair. Guatemala City has the largest city dump in Central America and it supports thousands of people who harvest supplies from the garbage. There are several communities on the boundaries of the dump.

Guatemala City has the largest city dump in Central America and it supports thousands of people who harvest supplies from the garbage.

Miguel moved to Colon Manuel, a community next to the dump, 8 years ago to make money collecting bottles. Guatemala City has the largest city dump in Central America and it supports thousands of people who harvest supplies from the garbage.

Guatemala City has the largest city dump in Central America and it supports thousands of people who harvest supplies from the garbage. This images is shot through a hole in the outside wall.

People who live in the communities next to Guatemala City’s dump pass buckets filled with water to make concrete for floors in their homes. The dump supports thousands of people who harvest supplies from the garbage.

Sylvia’s job is to make sure no one steals the recyclables harvested from the city dump. Guatemala City has the largest city dump in Central America and it supports thousands of people who harvest supplies from the garbage.

Daylin 3 years old in her small home in Guatemala City.

Juana who lives next to the city dump sits in her home with her 3 children. She was 13 when she had her first son and today she’s 22.

A young boy waits in line for food in Yalu, Guatemala. 7 out of 10 indigenous people in Guatemala live in poverty.